No bells or whistles. No gossip or political glad-handing. Just neighborhood news, reported plainly and honestly by people who live here.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in Sector 1. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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A 27-year-old West Side man is in custody after he allegedly was found in possession of

Aldridge A. Gardner

crack cocaine and heroin while in a car stopped near 52nd and Central.Aldridge A. Gardner of the 1500 block of North Francisco is held on $75,000 bond by the Cook County Department of Corrections and is next set to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 48, 155 W. 51st St., on Tuesday, Sept. 9.Police on patrol at 9:36 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11 said they stopped a car in the 5500 block of West 52nd Street after the driver, Candice F. King, 22, of 45th and Lavergne, reportedly failed to signal a turn. She was also cited for driving without a license and no proof of insurance.According to the CPD incident report, Gardner told police that the drugs were his, allegedly saying, "All that sh~t is mines. She don't sell that sh~t. I does." Police said that two plastic bags with crack cocaine fell from Gardner's pants legs, and that six smaller bags of heroin were found in his left shoe.

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An 18-year-old Scottsdale man is in custody after he allegedly led police on a brief but high-

Omar Rangel

speed chase through a crowded parking lot at the Jewel-Osco at 6107 S. Archer at 7:36 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5Omar Rangel of 84th and Kilbourn is held on $75,000 bond by the Cook County Department of Corrections and is next set to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 2, 2650 S. California, on Tuesday, Sept. 2.Police said on patrol near 55th and Austin said that a woman told them that Rangel's SUV had just hit her vehicle and was traveling north on Austin. Police said that Rangel's vehicle turned east at Archer and then south into the Jewel-Osco parking lot, crashing at the south end of the parking lot, near 55th Street.Police said that when Rangel refused to exit the SUV, he was physically pulled through the window opening in the driver's side door and then taken into custody---which brought applause from citizens at a CAPS 811 audience earlier this month, when the arrest was announced by CPD as a success story.There were two passengers in Rangel's vehicle, police added. One escaped and the other was reportedly found with an open can of beer between his legs.

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Cesar Ortiz

A 21-year-old Garfield Ridge man was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice/disorderly conduct after he allegedly tried to stop police from entering a back yard near 55th and Massasoit at 1:26 a.m. Thursday, July 24.Police responding to a 911 call about a loud party said that Cesar Ortiz, who lives at the home where the party was in progress, blocked their path and claimed they needed a warrant to enter the yard.Police said that Ortiz is an admitted gangbanger and is currently on parole for criminal sexual assault. According to the Illinois State Police, Ortiz is a registered sex offender and was convicted of committing a crime against a 13-year-old child.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance)at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 3. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

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Burglars entered the unlocked patio door of a home near 55th and Kilbourn and stole a safe, a necklace and about $3,000 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 39-year-old man, at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 26. He said he had left home at about 10 a.m. to go get breakfast at a local restaurant.

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About Us

The Southwest Chicago Post is an independent news service delivering news and opinion to the people of Chicago's Southwest Side.

We promote prosperity, progress and peace in the neighborhoods we serve.

We intend to champion homeowners, locally owned and operated small businesses and professional practices, schools, libraries, parks, houses of worship and more.

We also strongly support efforts to prevent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.

We cheerfully assist and promote members of our business and professional community, particularly those that are independent, locally owned and which hire local residents.

This online news service is owned and operated by lifelong Southwest Siders Joan Hadac (Editor and Publisher) and Tim Hadac (Managing Editor), both of whom have worked as local newspaper reporters and editors for over 25 years each.

Do you have a news tip, big or small? A letter to the editor? Want us to come out and cover your event? Let us know: editor@swchicagopost.com.